Why you should listen

Listening is not just being polite and can add a great deal of value for the
listener. You can also get a lot done.

Great leaders, coaches and facilitators are also great listeners.

Building trust

People who listen are trusted more than those who grab the talking stick and
barge straight into chatter. Trust is the grease of changing minds and listening
is the key.

Credibility

If you listen first to others and more to others, then your credibility with
them (and with other listeners) will go up. They are perceived as competent,
capable and working with others rather than against them. Good leaders are good
at listening and good listeners are seen as potentially good leaders.

It was said of Gladstone, a 19th century British Prime Minister, that if you
had dinner with him, you came away believing that he was the most intelligent
person in the country. However, if you had dinner with Disraeli, a peer who also
became Prime Minister, you came away believing that you were the most
intelligent person in the country. Clearly, Disraeli knew how to listen better
than Gladstone.

Support

Listening alone is a good supportive activity that people appreciate,
especially when they are upset or otherwise concerned.
Listening shows respect and empathy for other people. By listening, you are
sending a message that says 'You are important to me. I respect you.' Listening
thus boosts their sense of
identity.

Getting things done

As well as building trust, listening also lets you achieve your
goals.

Information

To paraphrase Yogi Berra, 'you can hear a lot just by listening'. Listening
gives you lots of information that can be useful, both now and in the future.
Especially if you can guide what the person is saying, you can achieve much with
very little talk.

Exchange

Very significantly, if you listen to other people, they are more likely to listen to you.
From the exchange principle, your
support of them obliges them to return support to you, which you can then use to
achieve your goals.